Protective effects of Strychnos potatorum seed extract on diabetic nephropathy in rats: Downregulation of FSP-1 expression

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a complication of diabetes mellitus, is the primary cause of chronic kidney disease. Fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1) is a key protein involved in renal fibrosis through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Strychnos potatorum, a plant with various health benefits, has been studied for its potential to modulate FSP-1 expression in diabetic nephropathic rats. Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups and treated with an ethanolic extract of S. potatorum seeds (500 mg/kg) and metformin (50 mg/kg) for 30 days. Biochemical parameters, renal histopathology, and FSP-1immuno-histochemistry, gene, and protein expressions were analyzed. The S. potatorum-treated group showed serum creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose values of 0.70 ± 0.06, 39 ± 1.41, 19.31 ± 0.38, and 144.67 ± 8.71 mg/dl, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the untreated diabetic group. Excessive collagen deposition, atrophied renal tubules, and perivascular fibrosis observed in diabetic animals were attenuated in the S. potatorum-treated group. The gene and protein expression of FSP-1 was significantly reduced in the S. potatorum-treated group than in the untreated diabetic animals. Strychnos potatorum by attenuating the expression of FSP-1 has arrested the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and restored the normalcy of the podocyte’s slit diaphragm. Strychnos potatorum’s modulatory effect on FSP-1 could be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Strychnos potatorum seeds could be a promising drug for the treatment of DN pending clinical trials.